planetarium

American  

[plan-i-tair-ee-uhm] / ˌplæn ɪˈtɛər i əm /

noun

plural

planetariums, planetaria

1. an apparatus or model representing the planetary system.

2. a device that produces a representation of the heavens by the use of a number of moving projectors.

3. the building or room in which such a device is housed.

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planetarium British  

/ ˌplænɪˈtɛərɪəm /

noun

1. an instrument for simulating the apparent motions of the sun, moon, and planets against a background of stars by projecting images of these bodies onto the inside of a domed ceiling

2. a building in which such an instrument is housed

3. a model of the solar system, sometimes mechanized to show the relative motions of the planets

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Etymology

Origin of planetarium

1765–75; < New Latin, noun use of neuter of Latin planētārius planetary; -arium

Example Sentences

Michelle Lopez’s video “Pandemonium” began life as a live performance inside a planetarium, and the film is a meditative look at man-made disasters.

From The Wall Street Journal

It added that they would create an "astronomical observatory, planetarium and visitor centre in the heart of the internationally-recognised Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park".

From BBC

Instead, we take field trips to the planetarium and the Art Institute and the Field Museum.

From Literature

That’s what happens when you have a payroll of $350 million and use it to amass more stars than the average planetarium.

From The Wall Street Journal

A 37-year-old convict, who had more than a year still to serve for theft, fled on November 14 during an outing with fellow prisoners to the city's planetarium.

From Barron's